Monday, November 2, 2009

Archbishop denies pressure on princess

Embed from Getty Images 
 November 2, 1955 

Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said in an interview today that "there had no church or state pressure on Princess Margaret." Two days ago, the princess announced that she would not marry Group Captain Peter Townsend, a divorced man. The Archbishop spoke with the British Broadcasting Corporation. The interviewer told him that most Britons believed that the Archbishop was "very deeply connected" with Margaret's decision. 

The Archbishop acknowledged that the princess "took advice. She got plenty of advice asked for and a good deal more unasked for. In the end, it was her own decision and she was under no pressure from the state or church." 

The Princess resumed her "arduous public schedule" tonight. She attended a commemoration service at St. Paul's Cathedral for the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr. Thomas John Barnardo, founder of a home for orphaned children. When the princess got out of her car, the waiting crowd, "standing in a cold rain," cheered, which brought a smile to Margaret's face. Group Captain Townsend told reporters that he would remain at Uckfield, the home of Lord and Lady Rupert Nevill for the weekend.

 "After that, I am going back to resume my post as air attache in Brussels, Belgium."

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